Harwood retainer

ABSTRACT

A retainer for preventing accidental pulling apart of a plug and socket connecting the ends of electrical conductors comprising a strip of flexible material with spaced apertures and openings to the edge of the strip from each aperture.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,781,761

Harwood 1 Dec. 25, 1973 HARWOOD RETAINER 2,461,427 2 1949 Kneebone 339 75 P 6] Inventor: C n ng E. arwood, 145 2,778,582 1/1957 Arthur 174/135 Frederick St, Torrin m C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Filed: Mar. 27, Great Britain [21] Appl. No.: 238,066 Primary Examiner-Joseph 1-1. McGlynn AttorneyFrank S. Troidl et a].

[52] US. Cl 339/75 P, 174/135 51 rm. Cl H0lr 13/54 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 339/75 P, 103, 1 19 C, A retainer for preventing accidental pulling apart of a 339/147 C; 174/135 plug and socket connecting the ends of electrical conductors comprising a strip of flexible material with [56] References Cited spaced apertures and openings to the edge of the strip UNITED STATES PATENTS from each aperture- 2,204,939 6/1940 L ons 339/147 C 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 HARWOOD RETAINER The present invention relates to connectors for electrical conductors, and more particularly to an accessory for use with the otherwise ordinary connector comprising a plug and socket in the form of a retainer for preventing accidential disconnection of the two parts of the connector. Domestic and industrial equipment are frequently connected to the source of electricity by extension cords. Accidential disconnection can result in inconvenience at best or danger at the worst. Most restraining devices are unnecessarily complicated and expensive. My invention employs a simple strip of insulating material with apertures which provide strain release by absorbing tension. By simplicity of use and manufacture it provides safety economically.

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the retainer;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention. Like parts throughout the various view are referred to by like numbers.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, my new retainer is seen to comprise a strip with apertures 12 through which an electrical conductor 14 can be interwoven. Generally, the cnductor has a socket 16 or plug 18 at the ends so that it could not be woven through the apertures 12. For convenience, passageways 20 have been included to communicate .between the apertures and the edge of the strip 22. These passages have a lesser dimension than the diameter of the apertures 12 so that the cord 14 will be restrained from slipping out of the aperture. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that tension applied to the free ends of the cord 24 and 26 will be absorbed by the retainer before it is transmitted to the socket and plug. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which apertures are staggered on alternate sides of the strip.

In operation, a plug is held against the retainer while the electrical cord is slipped through the opening in the edge into at least two apertures. The mating socket is connected to the plug and its cord is similarly interwoven through at least two apertures in the opposite direction. Tension on a conductor will be absorbed by a slight flexure of the retainer between the apertures. Transverse disengagement is prevented by the obstruction of the aperture wall. Heavy duty or less flexible conductors can be accommodated by interweaving them in alternate apertures as illustrated in FIG. 3 thereby reducing the sharpness of bend required to insert the cord in the retainer. The embodiment of FIG.

3 also permits the connection of two cords on each reinsulating material having a plurality of spaced apertures of predetermined diameter, and passages having a width smaller than the predetermined diameter of the apertures communicating between said apertures and an edge of the strip of flexible insulating material, and interposed apertures with passages communicating to a different edge of the strip. 

1. A retainer for preventing accidental disconnection of electrical connectors comprising a strip of flexible insulating material having a plurality of spaced apertures of predetermined diameter, and passages having a width smaller than the predetermined diameter of the apertures communicating between said apertures and an edge of the strip of flexible insulating material, and interposed apertures with passages communicating to a different edge of the strip. 